Size:  53×45cm   Time: 1993

On January 30, 2010, Dandeli Art Space sold Zhao Xiuhuan’s gongbi painting titled “Nine Peaches” to Mr. Qian Yaozhi, a partner of King & Wood PRC Law Firm, on an auction. The painting raised RMB 60,000 for the firm’s public interest foundation. 

“Nine Peaches”, which are painted on golden paper, symbolize happiness and longevity. In traditional Chinese culture, nine is the number representing the highest state.  The pronunciation of nine (九) in Chinese is the same as the character meaning “long-lasting” (久). Therefore, nine has been an auspicious number in Chinese culture since the ancient time. “Peach” is also said to be the name of a celestial being in one of Chinese ancient books. It is a tradition for Chinese people to give the elderly people peaches or peach-shaped cakes as birthday gifts to wish them longevity. In addition, there is a famous Chinese saying that “a bite of peach is better than a basket of apricots”, which reflects people’s love for this palatable and nutritious fruit.

Zhao Xiuhuan was born in Beijing in 1946,  She had her first art education at the Affiliated High School to Beijing Central Academy of Fine Arts. She worked as associate professor in Beijing Fine Art Academy from 1973 to 1989. In late 1980s, Zhao relocated to the U.S. and continued her art pilgrimage. Her artwork has been exhibited in many internationally renowned museums and art galleries, such as British Museum, Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, U.S.A., the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne, Singapore Art Museum, and Hong Kong Museum of Art. Moreover, Zhao’s paintings were collected by China National Art Gallery, Chinese Artists Association, Tianjin Museum of China, Shenzhen Museum of China, and Nanchang Zhuda’s Memorial Hall. Her artwork is also favored by individual art collectors in France, Netherland, Belgium, Spain, Jordan, Canada, U.S., Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.